Monica Feeley, a senior defender from Vassar College, was named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Field Hockey as announced by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

Feeley is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DIII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 43rd year.

“I’m honored to be in the company of such accomplished collegiate athletes with this award, “said Feeley. “We all have committed tremendous time and effort on the field and in our academic careers. I started competitive sports all the way back in kindergarten and I am humbled after having them be such a big part of my life, to have my dedication to athletics and academic performances recognized on the national stage."

"The field hockey team at Vassar College is filled with a group of strong, intelligent, and driven women who seek the best for each other on and off the field. They are my best friends and constantly push me to do better. I could not have asked for a more wonderful group to play field hockey with. This team, as well as the head coach, has helped me turn dedication, inspiration and motivation into not just an award-winning season, but into lifelong relationships. It is humbling to be honored as I follow in the rich tradition begun by the legendary Betty Richey here at Vassar in the 1900s."

Feeley, the defensive anchor of the team at sweeper, led her team to a program-record 14 shutouts and a 0.39 goals against average, which ranked second nationally. Overall, the team held opponents to 11 shots or fewer per game all season and allowed just three or less shots in eight games. Feeley led the Brewers with seven defensive saves and chipped on a goal and two assists.

For her efforts, Feeley was named the first-ever Vassar field hockey All-American after earning first-team honors from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). She is one of 16 players named to the first-team and a finalist for the DIII National Player of the Year. In addition, she was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year, the NFHCA North Atlantic Region Player of the Year and is a two-time first-team All-Liberty League honoree.

 “Monica is a one-of-a-kind student athlete, and very much deserves to be the NCAA DIII Honda Athlete of the Year,” stated head coach Michael Warari.

“Though her play often appears effortless; she has valiantly battled several injuries, pushing through the pain to be not only competitive, but one of the toughest players I have ever coached.  She gives 100 percent in both athletics and academics and has been a tremendous leader and role model to both her peers and opponents. What I will miss most is her caring nature, unflinching resolve and her dedication to excellence in all she does.  Anyone who has ever watched her play will remember her signature move: winning the 50-50 ball and flying down the entire length of the field, effortlessly bypassing everyone in her way. Truly a thing of beauty!”

All Honda Sports nominees from DIII and DII become a finalist for the prestigious 2018 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports on June 24, 2019, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Sports nominees are recognized in 11 DIII and DII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 43 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.   Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.

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Honda seeks to be a company that society wants to exist, creating products and technologies that improve the lives of people while minimizing the environmental impacts of its products and business operations to ensure a sustainable future.

Honda also is committed to making positive contributions to the communities where it does business, conducting socially responsible business practices and promoting diversity in its workforce. From Honda’s involvement in STEM education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to its support of pediatric brain tumor research and volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to the communities where its associates live and work.

Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/